Lymphangitis - please help!

[pobletsmum]

This is the first time I have actually started a thread on mumsnet, so here goes...

On saturday, I must have been bitten a few times by a gnat/fly. Yesterday I had 3 very hard, hot lumps on my arms, about 2" diameter, and 2 smaller bites on my neck. Last night and this morning the bites on my arm started tracking towards my armpits (long pink streaks several inches long flowing out of the bites IYSWIM, very tender & hot) so I went to on-call Dr and he said I have the start of lymphangitis (spelling?) and have to take antibiotics for a week, Flucloxacillin. I have googled lymphangitis but didn't find much.

What I would like to know is
*How serious (or not) is it?
*How quickly will it get better? I started antibiotics this morning - will they start to take effect by tomorrow - I have a busy day at work and am not feeling at my best today. Don't have a temperature but feel a bit shivery, nauseous & wierd (not awful though).
*I also have a small tender patch on my lower leg - is it likely to be related or completely irreleant?
*Is the problem likely to come back in future if I get insect bites again?

Sorry for all the questions, I would be very grateful for any information really.

Thank you!

Anybody - please?

No idea i'm afraid but sounds horrible. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks daftasabrush. I appreciate you dropping by

Could it be scabies ?

fakeblonde - I'm sure it's not scabies, but thanks for the suggestion. From what I did manage to find on google, I think the diagnosis was right, I just haven't been able to find much info about it. Ho hum...

Had similar with a bite on my foot years ago and it turned into cellulitis.
I imagine the infection has spread to your lymph glands which you have in armpits and neck and groin as well as several other areas.
You say you dont have a temp but from what you describe you are on the way to getting one i think.
Brufen would be better to take than paracetamol as its also an anti inflammatory.
Antibiotics should work within 24 hours but keep taking them reg.
I was quite unwell and it came on over about 24 to 48 hours .
There was no way i could have gone to work though as temp was so high i was talking rubbish (usually do anyway though ! )
See how you feel in the morning and if your no better i`d go and see your usual gp and stay home.
Hope you feel lots better asap x

Thanks fakeblonde,

I think I must have started the antibiotics just in time. The 'tracks' hadn't quite reached my armpits. They've faded quite a bit now - good news I hope. I went to work today but was a bit of a zombie. By this afternoon I was feeling much better. This evening I'm shivery & nauseous again, but haven't had a fever yet, fortunately. How long did you take to recover? Did you get it back again or was it a one-off? I hope you're alright now

It was just a one off with me but i have to be careful of bites as i have lymphoedema in my lower legs.
I think i was quite poorly for about a week but couldn`t really walk very far for longer.It took about 6 weeks for the infection to clear and another 6 weeks to clear up the diarhoea i got from the bl**dy antibiotics !Remember being really worried as was about to start my midwifery training and ended up sat with my foot up on a stool for all too see on my first day -well embarrassed.
It sounds as though you are on the mend though.
I swear by neat tea tree oil on insect bites !
Hope you continue to feel better x